It was in La Herradura, 2004 that the first War of the Parasols broke out, after the Mayor, Juan Carlos Benavides, ordered that any unattended beach ‘furniture’ would be confiscated. This was to stop families sending the Granddad with insomnia off to the beach after sunrise to ‘stake out’ the family plot for the day. There was even a riot, as a result, with indignant beach goers cutting the beach road and confronting the Guardia Civil after the Local Police gave up trying to control the situation.
But now, it’s Salobreña’s turn because on the 1st of August the beach-brolly Ban comes into effect – any unattended umbrellas or sun beds will be whisked off and the hitherto owners will have to pay 30 euros to get them back. They’ve got 14 days, by the way, after that it is a definite goodbye brolly.
Trouble is, that a beach brolly bought at a todo-a-cien shop costs less than 30 euros, so most people will probably buy another one instead of trudging off to reclaim their old one.
But it is not only beach-claiming that is being stomped on; noisy gits will also fall foul of the authorities, as well as beach hawkers. So, it’s also goodbye to the traditional chocolate wafer-cakes that have been consumed on the Salobreña’s beaches ever since Adam & Eve discovered suntan lotion for use on the Beach of Eden.
You will not be able to let your dog swim in the water, much less defecate next to the horrid neighbour from 4b, just down the corridor. You won’t be able to wash off your picnic plates and cutlery, much less scrap out your paella-incrusted pan. No prizes for guessing that whistling innocently, with your arms akimbo, as you warm the water around you… is out of the question, although unless the Local Police stand next to you with a water-proof thermometer, it should be quite difficult to control. Music, yes, but below a certain decibel limit.
And all this, explains the Councillor for Culture, Gustavo Aybar, is because the township wants to encourage ‘tourism of quality.’ All us plebs are tolerated, of course, but nothing should discourage the tourist of quality from graciously visiting our humble beaches.
Who knows, next year, you will have to doff your cap and tug at your forelock if confronted by somebody with a Rolex…